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Council for Exceptional Children Established
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children is organized by a group of administrators and supervisors. Elizabeth E. Farrell was the Founder and first President, 1922-26. The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association of educators inspiring change leading to the growth of children with disabilities through advocacy, standards, and professional development. https://www.cec.sped.org/ -
The Arc
Originally known as National Association for Retarded Children (NARC), and since then going through several renaming stages in the last 60 years, until the current name of The Arc of the United States was established. The Arc began as an advocacy group that served on the front lines of educational reform for students with disabilities causing congressional law changes that transcended to persons with disabilities. http://www.thearc.org/who-we-are/history -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Landmark Civil Rights ruling case that paved the way for educational reform. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a United States Supreme Court case where the Court declared state laws establishing segregation in public schools as unconstitutional. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965
This act was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson in an effort to rage war on poverty. ESEA was the most far-reaching act not only called for equal access to education for all students, but also federal funding for both primary and secondary education for students disadvantaged by poverty such as Title I funding. Funds are authorized for professional development, instructional materials, for resources to support educational programs, and for parental involvement promotion. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Class action lawsuit monumental in the future of education for children with disabilities. Prior to this, many students with disabilities, particularly those deemed at the time as mentally retarded, were required to be institutionalized. Parents advocated and sued the Pennsylvania state for discriminating against teaching their child because of a disability. The results resided in the District court mandating a free public education for children with mental retardation. -
Mills vs. Board of Education, District of Colombia
This class action lawsuit sought to end the DC school system from denying the labeled exceptional students access to publicly funded education. Mills sought the lawsuit and won on behalf of 18,000 students being denied education through admission refusal, suspension or expulsion and reassignment. Granted law requires due process and periodic review of student's education. https://youtu.be/5KI9dyE6Cew
https://www.clearinghouse.net/detail.php?id=11084 -
PL 94-142: Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Referred to as The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 signed by President General Ford, was monumental; designing the cornerstone of educational policy today. The Law stipulated four major purposes guaranteeing FAPE including related services in the LRE for children ages 3-21, to include parents in the process and informing parents and students of their due process and rights. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg773.pdf -
NCLB: No Child Left Behind Act 2001
Congress approved this law in June of 2001 and it was signed into law by George W. Bush on January 8, 2002 as a reauthorization of ESEA. NCLB expanded the federal role in public education through further emphasis on annual testing, annual academic progress, report cards, and teacher qualifications, as well as significant changes in funding. -
Individuals with DIsabilities Education Improvement Act 2004: (IDEIA)
Reauthorized in 1997 by President Bill Clinton; 10 key points related to discipline, participation in general education setting, curriculum and state standards, transition planning, assistive technology and related services, and the design of the IEP. IDEIA was to align with the NCLB Act; includes six principles: zero reject, protection in evaluation, FAPE, LRE, Procedural safeguards, and parent participation of the students' IEP.
http://idea.ed.gov/
https://youtu.be/66g6TbJbs2g -
ESSA: Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
Signed into effect by President Barack Obama as a reauthorization the ESEA shifting power over curriculum and teacher evaluations from the federal government back to the states. It included students to be taught to high academic standards in order to prepare them for college and careers. https://youtu.be/9HZbWaMQmHM
https://ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/index.html
